Givens pitched a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his eighth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays.

He needed only eight pitches (six strikes) to breeze through the frame. Givens is now 7-for-9 in save chances since taking over as the Orioles' closer after the trade deadline, posting a 3.18 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB in 17 innings. Barring a major offseason addition to the team's bullpen, he'll head into 2019 as the presumptive favorite for saves in Baltimore.

Givens (0-7) recorded the last five outs in Thursday's victory over the Athletics to earn the save. He struck out two and walked one.

Givens came up big for the Orioles in the eighth inning after he successfully notched the final two outs of the frame with the bases loaded. He allowed a leadoff walk in the ninth inning but didn't allow any other damage after that. He now has a 4.39 ERA this season with 74 strikeouts over 67.2 innings to go along with the seven saves.

Givens struck out one batter in 1.1 perfect innings of work Sunday, earning his second save of the season in the 9-6 win over Texas.

It was Givens' first save since the trade deadline when Baltimore traded several members of the team's bullpen, including Brad Brach and Zach Britton. For now, it seems that Givens will take over the closing duties for the Orioles and Sunday was certainly a positive sign moving forward.

Givens appears to be the leading candidate to serve as Baltimore's closer after Brad Brach was traded to the Braves on Sunday in exchange for international signing bonus slot money.

Brach reclaimed the ninth-inning throne shortly after Zach Britton was dealt to the Yankees on Thursday before following Britton out the door just days later. The Orioles could swing additional deals before Tuesday's non-waiver deadline that might alter the complexion of the bullpen, but as someone under club control through 2021, Givens seems likely to stay put. While he has just one career save to his name, Givens has proved his meddle as a seventh- or eighth-inning setup man since breaking into the big leagues in 2015, posting a 3.14 ERA and 10.7 K/9 over 203 career appearances.